Free Pancakes For Charity At IHOP

ELGIN, IL - JULY 16: Signs mark the locations of neighboring IHOP and Applebee's restaurants July 16, 2007 in Elgin, Illinois. IHOP has agreed to purchase the Applebee's restaurant chain for about $2 billion. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

DETROIT (WWJ) – International House Of Pancakes (IHOP) is celebrating National Pancake Day Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., by offering a free short stack of its famous buttermilk pancakes to each guest.

In return for the free pancakes, diners are inivited to make a donation to a local charity. Donations made at IHOPs in the Southfield area will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ programs at Beaumont Children’s Hospital.

WWJ’s Ron Dewey reports that local IHOP restaurants were buzzing just after the celebration began Tuesday morning, with some parents taking their kids to eat before school.

Jerry Hitchcock and his son decided to have breakfast at the Roseville IHOP. “We enjoy pancakes so…we go because he doesn’t have school today.”

Assistant manager of the Roseville IHOP Barb Cuwicki says they’ve been hopping since 6 a.m. “People stop in on their way to work and after work also because it’s all day long.”

Since its inception in 2006, more than 10.1 million buttermilk pancakes have been served during IHOP’s National Pancake Day celebration, raising more than $5.35 million to support charities in local communities.

Kelly Ruddy of Roseville explained why she stopped to donate at IHOP by asking, “What better cause then for the kids?”

IHOP is hoping to top last years total of $2.1 million with a 2011 goal of raising $2.3 million.

There is a limit of one free short stack per guest. The offer is valid at participating restaurants for dine-in only while supplies last and is not valid with any other offer, special coupon or discount.